Method, system and apparatus for media customization

ABSTRACT

A method for customizing media is provided. The method comprises obtaining an image including at least one image of a portion of a person. The method further comprises extracting the at least one image of a portion of a person from the image based on object finding and generating customized media including the at least one image of a portion of a person extracted from the scene image. An amusement park attraction is also disclosed.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods, systems, and apparatus forcustomizing media.

BACKGROUND

Media objects, such as movies, videos, static displays, audio and thelike, are well known forms of entertainment. Media objects are used in awide variety of settings for a variety of purposes.

In an amusement park attraction media is a particularly useful tool.Often times, an amusement park attraction will use a media object tomemorialize an experience for an individual, such as by taking a pictureof that person on a ride. Traditionally, an image may be created for aguest or person from a ride by obtaining an image of an entire ridevehicle which often includes several individuals, more than one of whichmay be a stranger to a particular guest. Thus, the photo obtained, whichoften may be purchased by the guest, includes many unwanted elements andpeople. Some attractions include having an individual guest stand infront of a green screen. A camera is then manually moved or theindividual's head is moved until a face is displayed in a stationaryon-screen window in, for example, a kiosk staffed by an operator. Thephoto is taken and oval cut-out with the individual's head is removedfrom the green screen. This process is both cumbersome and inexact.Moreover, a guest desiring to use one of the foregoing images may oftenbe burdened with the task of reviewing multiple images displayed on manyscreens to identify oneself, and further may be required to remember apicture ID number.

The internet is also a common media outlet. Many online services andwebsites are available for sharing media objects. Such services, forexample, permit sharing of photographs, video clips, audio clips, andother media objects. Typically, such sites permit a user to upload amedia object, whether sourced from a digital source or obtained from ahard copy which has been transposed into digital form, so that otherscan view, listen to or watch the media object, as well as engage incommentary or conversations regarding the media object.

Techniques for merging media objects, such as a set of images or imagerepresentations into a composite have also been explored. For example,systems have been used for producing pictures of human subjects with thehead of one person superimposed upon the body of another person, oranimal, etc. Superposition is normally accomplished mechanically bycutting around the outline of the head of a person, or electronicallytracing around the head, in a first photograph and applying orsuperimposing the cutout head to a body in a second photograph. Thisproduces a third photograph or electronic image. The superimposed imagemay also be animated or included in an animation, as has been done inrecent years by, for instance, JibJab Media, Inc. These animations ofteninclude a static image of a head of a person superimposed on a body inan online animated video clip. The face or image used may be uploadedsimilar to the online services used for sharing media objects discussedabove.

Face finding, facial recognition and image capture are used for avariety of purposes from security to entertainment. Face findinginvolves detecting a human face or faces in an image, such as a digitalimage and culling it out. Facial recognition may take a face and compareit to a database of other faces to pick the face from the database.Facial recognition may be used to recognize an individual's face in animage by comparison to a database of images or facefinding or faces. Acomputer system executes, facial recognition software to capture auser's face.

To date, however, pairing a face finding process, with other techniquessuch as superimposition to customize a media object for a person has notbeen accomplished. Accordingly, a method and system for customizing amedia object using object finding is provided. Moreover, a customizedprocess as described that may be further personalized by collectingpersonal information from an individual and using that information tofurther personalize the media element is also provided.

SUMMARY

A method for customizing media is disclosed. The method comprisesobtaining a scene image including at least one image of a portion of aperson. The method further comprises extracting the at least one imageof a portion of a person from the scene image based on object findingand generating customized media including the at least one image of aportion of a person extracted from the scene image.

An amusement park attraction is also provided. The attraction includesat least one ride vehicle configured to seat one or more guests. The atleast one ride vehicle includes at least one first computing device witha display. The attraction also includes an imaging device positioned tocapture at least one image of the at least one or more guests. The atleast one first computing device is configured to display customizedmedia comprising a stock media altered to include the at least one guestimage.

The system and amusement park attraction described herein may be used togenerate a personalized experience and a personalized media object forthe guest, and may be done without obtaining any information from orabout the guest. The system also permits and provides a means forcustomization by the guest. The method and systems, as well as theamusement park attraction, described herein provide a significantenhancement to the guest experience at an attraction. They provide apersonal connection to at least a portion of the ride by injecting aguest image and metadata related to the guest into a portion of theattraction. In addition, the method focuses the attention of the gueston the attraction, by requiring the input from the guest and generatinga response or media including the guest. Moreover, the media object canbe used to provide guest entertainment during, for example, transitionsof the ride which may otherwise not maintain the attention of the guest.Other advantages and features may become apparent from the followingdescription, drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general process flow chart illustrating a method forcustomizing media.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an example of a ride vehicle for usewith one or more embodiments of the system and method for customizingmedia.

FIG. 3 is system flow chart illustrating a method for customizing media.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a user interface according to one ormore embodiments of the present invention, showing a touch screeninterface.

FIG. 5 is a partial front perspective view of a ride vehicle of FIG. 2including a plurality of guests and showing an image capture devicearranged to capture an image.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a high-level overview of the process forcustomizing media.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an image captureprocess according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an object findingprocess according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an image processingprocess according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a chart illustrating a portion of a branching arrangement ofstock media elements arranged in a partial tree structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is generally directed to method and system for customizingmedia. Generally, the method includes obtaining an raw image or sceneimage which may include a person or a portion of a person. An imageincluding at least a portion of the person in the raw image is extractedfrom the raw image. A customized media object may then be createdincluding the extracted image.

One particular method, as illustrated by reference to FIG. 1, includes,among other features, obtaining a scene image 1 including at least oneimage of a portion of a person 2. The method further comprisesextracting the at least one image of a portion of a person from thescene image based on object finding 3 and generating customized mediaincluding the at least one image of a portion of a person extracted fromthe scene image 4. That media may then be displayed 5. The media may befurther optionally personalized by adding input from a person 6.

A scene image 1 may be obtained, as referenced above, by any suitablemechanism, and in one particular method by capturing the image using animage capture device, such as but not limited to, by taking a pictureusing a digital camera or recording a video segment using a videocamera. The scene image may have an image of a person therein. At leastone image of a portion of a person from the scene image may be extractedbased upon object finding 3. For example, object finding may beaccomplished by detection of features, such as a human face, in an imagecontaining several features or objects. The detection may beaccomplished by use or assistance of software operating a computermethod designed for this purpose. Object recognition is alsocontemplated. For example, object recognition may be accomplished bycomparing selected facial features from the scene image and a databasewhich may include additional images by comparison of the images. Findingand recognition computer methods may be used identify faces byextracting landmarks, or features, from an image of a subject's face.Object finding as used herein may be any technology capable of oradapted to locate or detect an identifying feature in an image. Anexample of object finding may be face finding, in which a face may bethe identifying feature in an image of a person that is detected.

Media may be customized by any suitable mechanism. In one example, mediais customized by a computer system which inserts an identifiable portionof a person into a stock media object.

The system and method described herein is adapted for use in associationwith a guest engagement or interaction assembly or device; in otherwords, a device that provides a level of interaction with a person. Theguest engagement assembly or device in the examples described herein isan amusement park attraction or ride, but any suitable device forinteracting with a guest or person may be suitable for the purposes ofthe present invention. The amusement park attraction described hereinincludes a ride 10 having one or more passenger locations or seats 12(see FIG. 2). The seats 12 may be included in one or more ride vehicles10 or cars. The vehicles may be adapted for movement or may bestationary. An on-board computer system may be operably connected or maybe mounted in one or more locations on the ride vehicle 10 for guestinteraction and display of media objects. More specifically, a ridevehicle 10 may have an on-board computer system 14 or a plurality ofon-board systems. A display 16 may be provided in communication with thecomputer system 14 and may be integral therewith. The display 16 may beadapted to display or render a media object, including, but not limitedto a static display, a video or movie, or combination of the foregoingfor viewing by a guest. In one example, the display is located on theguest engagement assembly or device and includes an integrated userinterface or user input device 34. A trigger board 24 (see FIG. 3)located or provided in association with a guest interaction device 28may be adapted to trigger an event. The computer and/or trigger board 24may be housed on or in the guest interaction device body 28. In oneexample, the trigger board 24 may be adapted to signal the image capturecomputer 12 to capture or obtain an image by proximity between twopre-defined positions. More specifically, the guest interaction device28 having a first triggering element may be moveable or may bepositioned on a moveable object, such as, but not limited to a ridevehicle 10, while a second triggering element may be stationary. Atriggering element may be manual or electronic device arranged toactivate a linked system or send a signal or other communication to aparticular system to engage that system upon the occurrence of apre-defined event, such as but not limited to the passage of a period oftime, or the location of a moving object. Examples of suitabletriggering elements include, but are not limited to a manual trigger,such as a switch that is activated when a moving object passes over it,or a sensor, such as a pressure sensor or motion sensor which isactivated upon sensing that the monitored activity has occurred, adevice operated by time delay. Upon reaching a predefined distancebetween the first and second triggering elements, the image capturedevice 26 may be triggered to obtain an image. The trigger board 24 mayalso be adapted to trigger the delivery of a media object to the guestinteraction device 28 computer. To this end, the trigger board 24 mayinclude a screen or display identification which signals the identity ofthe particular display to the network system. In one or more examples,the image capture computer system 18 may be arranged to receive atrigger or communication of a triggering event. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, a triggering event may occur by sending a signal via a digital10 or input output device to the image capture computer system 18. Thesystem may communicate through a digital 10 device 30 with a bill board32 and image capture device 26 to obtain one or more raw images of aguest which may be transferred or communicated to the image capturecomputer 18. In one example of an embodiment the bill board 32 is usedto attract the attention of a guest, thereby causing the guest to lookin the desired direction to capture an image. For example a video screenmay be placed below an image captive device or camera.

An additional or alternative guest engagement device may be a kiosk (notshown). The kiosk may be provided with a computer system including auser input device 34. The kiosk computer system may be in communicationwith one or more of the systems described herein. The computer systemmay further be provided with an image capture device 26 in communicationwith the computer system or network and may be adapted for objectrecognition. For example, the kiosk may capture and image of a person,such as an image of a face, and compare that image to a database ofimages so as to recognize and associate an image of a person with otherdata which may be stored in the computer system.

In the system for customizing media described herein, a computer systemor first computer system may be provided. The first computer system maybe an image capture computer system 18. The image capture computersystem, in one or more examples described herein, is provided with or incommunication with an image capture device 26. The image capturecomputer system is arranged for obtaining an image of a person or guest.The first computer system may also be provided in association orcommunication with one or more of a server, a display, and/or a userinput device 34. The first computer system executes software and mayalso be provided with a communication device in communication with anetwork. The first computer system may further be operatively linked orprovided in communication with a database or other mass storage systemor device where the captured image, processed image, and any other datais stored. A plurality of first computer systems or components thereofmay be provided in one or more examples of embodiments of the presentinvention.

In examples of embodiments described, and as shown in FIG. 3, the imagecapture computer system 18 is in operable communication with an objectfinding server 20, each of which may be provided with executablesoftware and/or other system components capable of comparing,identifying, cropping, reducing, cutting, or otherwise modifying animage obtained by an image capture device 26. In addition, the objectfinding server 20 and/or a network server 22 may be provided withexecutable software and/or other system components to assemble a finalimage from a combination of one or more images.

A single computer system may be used, or multiple integrally relatedsystems may be used. For example, a second computer system may also beprovided in communication with the first computer system. The secondcomputer system may be a network server system 22. The network computeror server system may be provided for processing and storage of an imagereceived from the image capture computer system and the object findingserver and may also be adapted to facilitate transfer of data and imagesbetween a guest interaction device computer system 14, and the imagecapture system 16. The second computer system executes software and maybe provided in association or communication with one or more of aserver, a display, and/or a user input device 34, or a plurality of oneor more of the foregoing devices. The second computer system may beprovided with a communication device as described herein incommunication with a network, which may be a wireless communicationdevice or hardwired communication device. The second computer system mayalso be operatively linked or provided in association with or incommunication with a database or other mass storage system or device.The second computer system may be an “off-board” system. In other words,the second computer system may be located separate from a guestengagement or interaction device 28 and/or ride vehicle 10.

A third computer system may further be provided including any one ormore of the components described with respect to the first and secondcomputer systems. The third computer system may be an “on-board” system,such as a guest interaction device computer system 14 or a ride vehiclecomputer system either of which may be remote from the first and secondcomputer systems. To this end, the guest interaction device 28 in one ormore examples of embodiments of the system for customizing media may beoperably connected to the network server 22 for communicationtherebetween via a wireless network.

While first, second, and third computer systems are specificallydescribed, any number of computer systems may also be provided incommunication with the various components described herein withoutdeparting from the overall scope of the present invention. Moreover, thecomputer systems may be linked in any number of ways, including but notlimited to direct connection, remote connection, wireless connection orany combination thereof.

One or more terminals, such as a kiosk, or other guest interactiondevice 28, may also be used in connection with a network, hardwired orwireless, for handling the relevant communications. The kiosk or guestinteraction device 28 may include an image capture device and may beprovided in communication with an object recognition server anddatabase. The device may execute software for recognizing an image. Forexample, the kiosk may be adapted to capture an image, such as by takinga picture of a person's face, and comparing that captured image to adatabase of faces or images so as to link the captured image and datawhich may be associated with the person's image in the database.

As set forth above, a communication device may be provided with each orany of the computer systems described herein. To this end, each computersystem may include executable software to maintain and/or control thefunctions of the present invention, including the communication andtransmission of data between the various components and devices of thepresent invention. One or more communication links and/or devices may beprovided to transmit and receive signals between two or more devices.The communication link may be a high-speed network connection.Additionally, the computer may include a means for transforming a signalreceived into a visual and/or audio signal on the display screen or GUI.A wireless communication device may be provided and may comprise anydevice capable of transmitting and receiving data or files. A singlewireless device may be used, or a combination of such devices may beused without departing from the overall scope of the present invention.In one example, a Wi-Fi system may be employed. In another example, asatellite or communication link to a satellite may be provided incommunication with the system and/or one or more of its variouscomponents. One or more switches, routers, satellite dishes and the likemay be provided for communication. A computer may therefore comprise awireless transmission device or a wireless receiver device, or both.While wireless communication is described, it is contemplated that aphysically linked communication system may be used for communicationbetween one or more computers or a portion of the communication systemmay include a physical communication link. Examples of a physicalcommunication devices or links may be a cable, Ethernet, or otherhardwired connection.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image capture computer system 18 may be inoperable communication with the object recognition server 20, and mayalso be in operable communication with the network server 22. The objectfinding server 20 may also be in communication with a network server 22.One or more guest interaction devices 28 may also be operatively linkedor otherwise in communication with the computer systems 18, 20, 22. Inone example, a plurality of guest interaction devices 28 are provided incommunication with the network server 22. These guest interactiondevices 28, as discussed above, may include a computer system 14, aswell as an optional trigger board 24 or mechanism in operablecommunication or connection with the guest interaction computer systemand/or the network server 22 system.

The image capture device 26, such as but not limited to a digital cameraor other image capture mechanism, may be provided in communication withany one or more of the computer systems. As described, the image capturedevice 26 may be provided in operable communication with the imagecapture computer system 18 and may also be in operable communicationwith the object finding server 20, as well as an object recognitionserver or database. The image capture device 26 forms a first imagecapture device for capturing an image of a guest. A second image capturedevice or camera may also be provided in operable communication with acomputer system. Any number of image capture devices may be used withoutdeparting from the overall scope of the present invention.

The image capture device 26 is arranged for obtaining and rendering animage. The image capture device 26 may also include a processor orcomputer, a user input device 34, a display and other common camera orimage capture components, as well as a communication mechanism fortransferring the image to the image capture computer 18. The imagecapture device 26 may execute software acceptable to obtain an image ofa person, to process an image obtained of a person, and/or to convert animage of a person to an alternative format. For example, a camera may beused to crop and send or transmit or communicate an image. The imagecapture device 26 may also be adapted to receive a request or trigger toobtain an image.

In one example of an embodiment of the system of customizing a mediaobject, the image capture device 26 is adapted or arranged to capture animage of an identifiable portion of a person or guest. An identifiableportion of a guest may be any portion of the guest and may include, forexample, the guest face, a full body, a portion of the body, and morespecifically, a portion of the guest that is recognizable, such as aface, an item of clothing or other unique feature. An image including anidentifiable portion of a guest may be an image readable by machine. Tothis end, a machine-readable image, which may also be computer-readable,includes information encoded in a form which can be read, scanned orotherwise sensed by a machine or computer and interpreted by themachine's hardware and/or software. Alternatively, the image may beidentified by human identifiable means. In one example, the image is ahuman identifiable image, or an image of a guest that can be visuallyidentified by that guest. When the image or photo is captured by theimage capture device 26, the image capture computer system 18 may tagthe photo or image with the metadata entered by the guest or a sequenceof data related to the guest. Alternatively, the network server 22 maytag or link the image with the relevant metadata. Metadata, as discussedherein, may also include other relevant data, such as but not limitedto, a time stamp, a ride vehicle identifier, a number, a key, a locationof the occupant or guest, such as, but not limited to, a seatidentification and row identification or other information which can bedetermined automatically by the image capture computer. The system may,thus, associate metadata with the image for later use. To this end, themetadata, or a portion thereof, may travel with the image as it istransferred through the system of obtaining customized media, or thesystem may be adapted to retrieve the metadata, or a portion thereof, ata later time in the process. In one example, the system captures boththe image and metadata in close temporal proximity.

The image may be a visible light image, such as a photograph. However,any form of image suitable for the purposes provided may be used, suchas but not limited to an x-ray photographic image, a black and white ora color photographic image, a video image, a silhouette image, andcombinations thereof. In one example, the image may be a digital pictureto facilitate ease of data transfer in a computer system, although afilm image which is transferred to a computer readable format may alsobe acceptable for purposes of the present invention. The image may alsobe three dimensional (3-D), two dimensional (2-D), textured, orotherwise include visual effects. The image may also be modified. Forinstance, the captured image may be rendered in the form of a cartoon oravatar image, or a compression of an image, although other forms ofmodification of the image would not depart from the overall scope of thepresent invention.

As described herein, one or more displays 16 may be associated with themethod and system for customizing media. In an example of an embodiment,the display 16 associated with the on-board computer system may be orinclude a screen for rendering an image to a guest or a plurality ofguests. A display 16 may also be associated with the first and/or secondcomputer systems, a kiosk, as well as in a general viewing area.Generally, the display 16 may be or include a graphical user interface34 (GUI) or a communication means by which an image, communication,media, or the like may be displayed or communicated. The display 16 maycomprise any suitable device for rendering an image. Examples ofdisplays include, but are not limited to, a plasma display, anelectronic display, such as LCD, LED, CRT, projection, and the like. Thedisplays 16 may be free standing, mounted or secured to a wall, a seat,or other device, or may be mounted as a portion of a larger display.

More specifically, as seen in FIG. 2 a guest interaction device 28, suchas but not limited to a ride vehicle 10 may have one or more displays 16and one or more computers 14 associated therewith. In one example, adisplay 16 and computer 14 is provided in association with each seat inthe ride vehicle 10. In another example, two guests in a ride vehicle 10may work together on a single computer and/or to view a single display.The display 16 may be positioned in the field of view of the guest oroccupant, and more specifically the seated occupant. To this end, thedisplay 16 may be mounted in a position in front of the seated occupant.The display 16 may be mounted to the seat in front of the occupant, awall, or may be provided with any other mounting device or framesuitable for holding the display.

As indicated, the display 16 may have a computer 14 in operablecommunication therewith. The displays or computers may be provided witha user input device 34 to permit a user or guest to communicate with orthrough the computer, such as for example, a touch screen interface, acontroller, a keyboard, and other similar interfaces (see FIG. 4). It isalso contemplated that the user interface 34 may employ voicerecognition technology and respond to spoken commands. The display orthe computer may further be provided in association with a communicationdevice, such that the display can transmit and/or receive signals from asecond device.

The attraction shown in FIG. 5 includes at least one guest interactiondevice 28, namely a ride vehicle 10 which may be configured to seat oneor more guests. More specifically, an amusement park ride, and inparticular, a single car or vehicle 10 in an amusement park ride may beprovided. The amusement park ride may be a moving vehicle, and includerows of seating. Each row of seating, for purposes of this example, mayinclude two (2) guests or people (regardless of the number of availableseats 12 in the row), and each vehicle may include two (2) rows ofseating (see FIG. 4). Accordingly, a ride vehicle 10 is provided whichmay be occupied by one or more guests 36. In the example shown in FIGS.1, 2 & 4, the ride vehicle 10 may be occupied by anywhere from zero (0)to six (6) guests, including three (3) guests in each row, and isspecifically illustrated in FIG. 5 with two (2) guests in each row.While specific examples are given, one of skill in the art wouldunderstand that any number of cars 10, seats 12, rows, guests 36 may beused without departing from the overall scope of the present invention.Likewise, while a moving vehicle in an amusement park ride isspecifically described in this example, the principals of the inventioncan be applied in other arrangements and to other devices. Each guestinteraction device 28, or ride vehicle 10, may include at least onecomputing device 14 with a display 16 configured to display customizedmedia on the display 16 comprising a stock media altered to include thecaptured guest image. The attraction also may include an imaging device26 or a plurality of imaging devices positioned to capture at least oneimage of one or more guests. For purposes of this example, the displayand computer may be provided with a touch screen user interface 34. Thetouch screen user interface 34 is provided with a plurality of controloptions permitting the user or guest to customize or personalize his orher experience. In an example of an embodiment of the present invention,the touch screen is provided with one or more choices or options 38, 40,42, 44 for a guest (see FIG. 4) in response to a query or request orregarding particular subject 46. Any choice may be suitable for thepurposes provided. The guest may, for example, be asked to select alanguage within which to communicate. The guest may also be asked wherehe or she is from, by for example, requesting that the guest key inrelative information or alternatively, by asking the guest to select andzoom into a location on a map. The options are collected as guest inputdata by the system.

In addition to the collection of information or data from each guest,the system may obtain one or more images of each guest. As illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 5-9, an image capture device 26 may be used to capture animage or more than one image of a guest. The image capture device 26communicates with the image capture computer system 18 which may controlthe image capture device 26.

An image, such as but not limited to, a photograph or picture may betaken of the guest, manually or by automated means. An image may also betaken of the entire ride vehicle 10 with guest or guests 36 therein. Theentire ride vehicle image or raw image may form a scene image. The imagemay also be taken of the guests alone, or portions of the guests. In anexample shown in FIG. 4, four guests are seated in the car and areinstructed to look at a display. In this regard, a device or othermechanism may be used to attract the attention of the guest so as toobtain the image with the guest in a certain position. For instance, anadditional camera (not shown), such as a video camera, may be providedin association with the display to provide a real time image of theguest in the display. The image capture device 26 may then be used toobtain an image of each guest in the ride vehicle 10. The image capturedevice 26 may capture an image of all seated occupants in the vehiclesimultaneously. In other words, at least one image may be obtainedincluding all guests or riders in the ride vehicle 10, forming a rawimage or scene image. The scene image and the extracted image may becommunicated or transferred to the object finding server 20. Usingobject finding, the object finding server 20 may review or query thescene image for one or more portions of each guest, and morespecifically, for one or more identifiable portions of each guest.

In the method and system described herein, object finding, such as butnot limited to face finding and biometrics, may be used to obtain animage of a person, such as an identifiable portion of a person or guest.The system may review the captured image for guest faces which maycorrespond to a desired image to be extracted. For example, in a sceneimage, the system and method must first locate the identifiable portionof the person or guest before extraction of that portion can occur.Object recognition may also be used. As indicated, the method and systemincludes or comprises extracting at least one image of a portion of aperson from a scene image. Extraction may be based on object finding orobject recognition. More specifically, the operation of extracting mayinclude extracting at least one facial image associated with an image ofa portion of a person from the scene image. The recognized or identifiedextracted image may then be linked or otherwise tagged for use inassociation with the scene image. While two images are specificallydescribed, which may be taken from one, two or more image capturedevices 26, additional images of a guest may also be obtained and used.Additionally, in some instances, the operation of extracting an imagemay include extracting an at least partially obscured image of a portionof a person from the scene image. This obscured image, or any imageobtained by the image capture device 26 may be altered or otherwisemanipulated or modified.

In an alternative embodiment, the image capture computer may transmitthe scene image to a remote computer, which may be an object findingserver 20 or other system. At the remote computer, at least one image ofa portion of the guest is extracted from the scene image based on objectfinding.

In the example described herein, a scene image is obtained of the guestsin FIG. 5 which includes obtaining a ride image of at least one guest inan amusement park ride car. At least one image of a portion of the guestis extracted from the ride image based on object finding. The portion ofa guest may be a portion of a guest facial image. To this end,extracting the at least one guest facial image from the scene image maybe based on face finding. Generally, object finding, or morespecifically face finding, may be performed by a computer applicationthat automatically identifies or verifies an object, for example aperson's face, from an image, such as a digital image or a video framefrom a video source. These images generally are two dimensional. Facefinding computer methods may be used identify faces by extractinglandmarks, or features, from an image of the subject's face. Forinstance, a computer method may analyze the relative position, size,and/or shape of the eyes, nose, cheekbones, and jaw in a first imagewhich may be an extracted image or a raw image. These features may thenbe used to search for other images with matching features. A computermethod may also be used to normalize a gallery of face images and thencompress the face data, saving or storing the data in an image that isuseful for face detection. An image may then be compared with the facedata. It is contemplated that three-dimensional object or face findingmay also be used in which three-dimensional sensors are arranged tocapture information about the shape of an object, namely the face. Thisinformation may then be used to identify distinctive features on thesurface of, for example, the face, such as, but not limited to, thecontour of the eye sockets, nose, and chin. Visual details of the skin,as captured in standard digital or scanned images, may also be used forobject finding, which may make an identification on skin texture, suchas but not limited to the unique lines, patterns, and spots apparent ina person's skin. Suitable object finding or face finding recognitionsoftware and products are commonly commercially available. For example,“faceAPI” is an object finding application available from SeeingMachines of Canberra, AUSTRALIA which runs on a computer system; “FaceSensing Engine” is an object finding application available from OkiElectric Industry Co., Ltd, of Tokyo, JAPAN arranged to run on acomputer system; and “Facelt ARGUT” is an object finding applicationwhich runs on a computer system and may be obtained from L-1 IdentitySolutions, Inc. of Stamford, Conn. Alternatively, the object findingapplication may be custom generated to obtain the desired detectionvariables. The obtained or captured image of a portion of the guest maybe further processed or cropped.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, for ease of explanation, the process will bedescribed in reference to a single person or guest and single capturedimage, but a plurality of guests and images may be used as will beunderstood from the description. In the process shown in FIGS. 5 & 6, animage capture computer 18 captures the image of a person or guest. Thismay be done by, for example, capture of a photograph. The photographicfile 48 which may include the raw image 29 may be transferred orcommunicated or pushed to a database 50 in communication with the imagecapture device 26. A raw image, or plurality of images, are transferredto a database or server in communication with the image capture computersystem. The image is then processed. The photographic file may beprocessed so as to extract a second photographic file 52 of the guest.It is further contemplated that a computer method may analyze therelative position, size, and/or shape of the eyes, nose, cheekbones, andjaw in a first image which may be an extracted image or a raw image.These features may then be used to search for other images with matchingfeatures. A computer method may also be used to normalize a gallery offace images and then compress the face data, saving or storing the datain an image that is useful for face detection. More specifically, thedatabase may query or scan the raw image files for one or more images.For example, the database may query for a raw vehicle file, and one ormore images, and more specifically, two images of a ride vehicle, suchas an image of a front row of a ride vehicle and an image of a back rowof a ride vehicle. It is also contemplated that two images of a guest,such as a front and a rear image may be used. Upon locating the queriedimages or acceptable images, the located images are sent to batch forprocessing. Processing may include combining the images to form acomplete image or what appears to be a complete image. For example, animage from the front row of a ride vehicle may be combined with an imageof a back row of a ride vehicle to form a complete ride image.

The processed images may be returned in response to the database query.An object finding server 20, such as but not limited to a face findingserver, then may process the image files of the guest. The step ofprocessing may include sending the image for comparison to an objectrecognition server and database. The raw images, composite images, andseparated processed images may be transferred by the image capturecomputer system 18 through a network to various interconnected systems.For example, the network may be used to transfer the images to a secondcomputer system such as a network server 22, an object finding databaseor server, an object recognition database or server, and/or a storage orimage sharing database. An image file, such as the first photographicimage file 48 may therefore be pushed to a database 50.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the object finding process may occur on theobject finding server 20 and may begin when one or more images 48, 52are received from the image capture computer 18. In one example of anembodiment, object recognition may be used in which the image capturecomputer system 18 may obtain the raw images previously retrieved 54 byquerying the image 48 in comparison in the object recognition database.More specifically, a pair of separated images 48, 52 may be captured bythe image capture device 26. Using a file transfer protocol 56, or otheracceptable protocol, the separated pair of images may be transferredfrom the image capture computer system 18 to the object finding database20 for processing. The object finding process 58 includes locatingidentifiable portions of a guest in each image, such as faces in eachimage, and may also include locating such images in a separated pair orplurality of images of the guest. In one example, object finding mayinclude object recognition which may compare an image of an identifiableportion of a guest, such as the guest's face, to a raw image includingthe guest, such as an image of a ride vehicle 10 including a pluralityof guests. The object finding server 20 may then record or otherwisenote a matching image for later use by the system, namely for returningto a media object for display to the guest.

The object finding system may also compare and record image coordinates60 of each guest. For example, eye coordinates may be obtained. Theimage coordinates may be transferred to, in one example, a tokendatabase 62. The object finding server 20 also may in any combinationwrite one or more data files, such as an XML data file, create one ormore BMP identifiable image cutouts, and/or delete one or more separatedimage files. The BMP identifiable image cutouts 64 may then betransferred to the token database 62. While tokens and XML markuplanguage are specifically identified, alternatives would not depart fromthe overall scope of the present invention. Likewise, while BMP orbit-mapped graphics format, as commonly used in the Windows environment,is specifically referenced herein by way of example, alternative formatgraphics files may be acceptable for purposes of the present invention.

The image capture computer system 18 and object finding server 20 maycommunicate with a second system, namely, a network server 22, inoperable communication therewith. Specifically, the information and dataobtained by the image capture computer system 18 and the object findingserver 20 may be transferred or communicated to the second system ornetwork server 22. For example, the first system may transfer the data,an image of a ride vehicle 10, the ride vehicle 10 identification, thetime stamp, and any other applicable metadata, along with the cut out orextracted portion(s) of the guest(s) to the second system. In a furtherexample, the system may also transfer the image of the ride vehicle 10separately.

The raw tokens 62 may be queried by the image capture computer system 18via the network, and may be scanned for new BMP images. The imagecoordinates may also be queried by the network server 22 incommunication with the object finding server 20. The network server 22may receive image coordinates and may also scan for new BMP images 66.Upon locating the queried file, the network server 22 system may storethe data for future use 68 in a local storage system or database 70. Thelocated image file may also be converted into an acceptable format foruse in processing in the system, such as for example, conversion into aJPG format file 72. The image file is processed, or more specifically,may be further cropped or cutout for use. The cutout, formatted image isthen output via the network to a database 74. Again, while specific fileformats, such as BMP and JPG, are discussed by way of example,alternatives would not depart from the overall scope of the presentinvention.

Referring again to FIG. 6, an image file, such as the second photographimage file 52, may be analyzed to verify the image is acceptable fordisplay in connection with a media object. This may be done by manual orautomated means. To this end, the second image file may be pushed orcommunicated or transferred to the database 50. Media may then berequested by the system, and in particular the database for review andapproval. The system may approve or deny the media for use with theimage. If the media is approved, the approved file is pushed to thedatabase. As shown in FIG. 8, the network server 22 system, in receiptof the images and data from the image capture computer system 18 and theobject finding server 20, may receive data from an additional system incommunication with the network server 22 system. For example, ananalysis system 76 may be used to review or analyze images to verify theimage, or plurality of images, is appropriate for display. The analysissystem 76, in one example, may generate or deliver a report, such as anXML censor report 78 regarding each image. While XML markup language isspecifically described, XML is identified for purposes of example onlyand other suitable languages would be acceptable for the purposesprovided. This data is transferred to local storage 70 in communicationwith the network server 22 or computer system.

Any one of the images, or cropped images, may be reviewed, by manual orautomated means, to determine if all relevant portions of the guest arecaptured and/or for any additional unwanted or inappropriate images. Forexample, the image may be a partially obscured image. The image may bereviewed and each face in the image may be encircled, for instance, bydrawing a box around the face, and a token may be associated with eachface, such as coordinates of a particular portion of the image.Likewise, an image of a ride vehicle 10 may include a plurality ofguests. The vehicle image or raw image may be reviewed to determine ifall occupants have been captured in the scene image, such as forinstance, four people are present in the car, but only three faces arecaptured. The flawed or partially obscured image may be “touched”manually, or by automated means, to add any missing portion of an image.The cropped image is transferred or pushed to the database. Alternativesystems may also be used for editing or otherwise modifying the image,whether manual or automatic, without departing from the overall scope ofthe present invention.

Any of the image files, image coordinates, and the data associated withthe guest or guest interaction device 28 for the particular guest fromthe processes described may be transferred into local storage 70. Theguest interaction device 28 may send guest information obtained fromguest input, such as responses to inquiries, to a database that maylater unload or push the information collected and media to a display.Portions of each guest may be removed or cut or modified, or otherwiseextracted from the scene image using software executed by the imagecapture computer. Upon receipt of the images and data, the networkserver 22 system may also edit or clean the image. Upon locating thequeried portion of the guest, the system may further cut or crop theportion of the image. For example, the image may be cropped to include aspecific portion of the guest, or to remove unwanted background. As oneexample, a rectangular image of a person's head formed by extractionfrom a raw image from an image capture computer system 18 may be croppedto shape the specific features, i.e., face, hair, ears, apparel,accessories and so forth. More specifically, the method may includecropping at least one facial image along a boundary of the facial image.This editing process or operation may be automated or manual.

In one example of an embodiment, a virtual green screen may be used toobtain an image for use with the system. A ride vehicle having multipleseat rows may be used. Accordingly, a ride image is captured. Morespecifically, a computer system executing software is in communicationwith one or more image capture devices and may control the capture of animage. The ride image is captured by obtaining a plurality of closelytimed separate images, such as closely timed separate photographs by theone or more image capture devices. In one example, two rows may beprovided in a ride vehicle. Accordingly, two closely timed separatephotos may be captured by an image capture device. Additional rows andimages may be obtained without departing from the overall scope of thepresent invention. In addition to closely timed multiple image capture,focused and directed lighting may be provided on each row to obtain asuitable image with the image capture device.

An individual photo is then created for each seat row from the raw imageby the computer system that shows only the guests in that row, with allof the background and foreground removed from around the guests as ifthey had been photographed in front of a chroma-key “green screen”. Theprocess does not require a green screen background behind the guests, asthe raw image may be used by the system. In other words, the imagecaptured of the ride vehicle is transformed by the system into anindividual row and more specifically guests in that row absent anybackground or foreground material. The process may create the row imageeven when the background includes a row of guests sitting in the nextseat row, and may also remove the foreground from the raw image, evenwhen the foreground includes a row of guests sitting in front of theguests being photographed. This permits use of images of only theguest's seat row, or guests in a particular row in a vehicle. As aresult, the images may be used to personalize and customize a ride for aguest, avoiding the inclusion of guests in other rows of the ridevehicle in a media object created for the guest.

Referring to FIG. 9, after a predetermined period of time following thetriggering of image capture, the network server 22 system may obtaincertain data from local storage 80, including for example, the raw imagefile, the censor data, the image coordinates, and the raw images. Thisinformation may be matched or linked to the final identifiable imageincluding guest cutouts or extracted images 82, and transferred orreturned to a local storage system 70, which system may be an additionaldatabase or the same database previously described. The network server22 system may scan the local storage system 84 for final cutouts orextractions and when found, send the images to a media server ordatabase 86 for display. The system 22 may also request guestinteraction device data, such as but not limited to deviceidentification information, from the database.

At the end of the foregoing processes, the network server 22 system maypossess or house within its storage system the ride or guest interactiondevice 28, the image of the identifiable portions of the guests and themetadata associated with each of the guests. This data is stored on adatabase in operable communication with the network server 22 system.The image of the identifiable portions and the metadata may then bepassed or communicated to the ride vehicle 10 from the network server 22system. In particular, this information may be communicated from thenetwork computer system 22 to the computer system 14 located on the ridevehicle 10.

Once the image or images and metadata are received, the information maybe placed in a system folder for playback. More specifically, the ridevehicle 10 computer or server 14 may drive one, two or more displays 16,configured to render or display customized media comprising a stockmedia altered to include the guest image. A portion of the media objectmay be stored on the media server 14. In one example, an animationportion of a media object such as a video is located on a media serverin the vehicle. It is also contemplated that the stored portion oranimation may be located on a server separate from the vehicle, such asbut not limited to on the network server 22, and may be passed to thevehicle or vehicle computer via an acceptable communication device. Forexample, it may be acceptable to transfer or stream video with images tothe ride vehicle 10 from a remote location. Thus, the media servers may,in one or more examples of an embodiment, be positioned “off-board” orremote from the ride vehicle 10.

In the example discussed above in which the media server is located onor in the vehicle, a small amount of data is passed to the media server14 located at the vehicle 10, namely metadata regarding the image andthe image. In one or more embodiments, at least one of the images mayalso be matched or tagged with metadata related to the image, theperson, or any other data suitable for use by the system. This may occurat any time during the course of the amusement park attraction.

Following extraction of the image, the image or a portion of a personmay be inserted into a deliverable or video or other media to create acustomized video or media, such as an animation, for a person. To thisend, customized media including the at least one image of a portion of aperson extracted from the scene image may be created.

In a further embodiment, the deliverable or video or media may bepersonalized by the guest to create personalized media specific to thatperson and including the image of a portion of that person.

To this end, in addition to, or as an alternative to the guest inputdescribed hereinabove, the guest or passenger or occupant may, duringthe attraction or at another time, use the user input device 34associated with the on-board computer 16 to make a series of choices andprovide additional input to the computer system. The informationprovided by the guest through the user interface 34 may be retained asdata by the system, and may be used at any time in the process. In oneexample, the choices made are a series of responses to questions aboutthe guest. There may be one (1), two (2), or more choices and mayinclude, for instance, six (6) choices. These choices or optionspersonalize a media object for the guest. The media object may alsoinclude one or more sub-elements within the options or selections. It isalso contemplated that the guest may not enter selections or choices, orthat options are not available to a guest.

In making choices, the user or guest provides additional data or input,stored as metadata, to the system. The media system and network systemmay therefore receive a selection of a particular stock media orgenerate or call up a particular stock media from a plurality of stockmedia, based upon guest selections. The stock media may be, for example,flash animations. As indicated, it is contemplated that no selectionsmay be made by a guest. Upon receipt of answers to the foregoingquestions or input from the guest, a media feature or element is createdincluding one or more repeatable elements and one or more customizableelements. The same animation segment or stock media may be stored in thesystem, which may be the on-board computer or media server 14, for thecar or the bicycle driving to the home. By choosing one segment over theother in a flash system, the user “jumps over” one animation segment andthe animation begins with the second animation segment choice. Theoperation of generating customized media includes customizing theselected stock media to include the at least one image of a portion ofthe guest on a stock character of the selected stock media. The guest'simage, which has been transferred to the media server, may be insertedinto the animation. A media object may therefore be customized byincluding at least one cropped identifiable image of a person, such as afacial image. The customized media, which may include a stock animationwith at least one character customized to include the croppedidentifiable image of a person or facial image. More specifically, thecustomized media includes a stock media altered to include anidentifiable portion of the guest and personalized to address or relateto the answers or input received from the guest in the variousresponses.

A plurality of options may be provided in a branching arrangement. Asshown in FIG. 10, the options provided to the guest form a branchingarrangement, such as option 1, option 2, option 3, which further branchto form options 1A and 1B, options 2A and 2B and options 3A and 3B,respectively. For example, the options may be: “home, work, health orleisure”. This may be presented to the guest in the form shown in FIG.4. The selection made will determine which branch of options areavailable. For example, if the input or option is “home”, then theoptions may follow: “a green home, a smart home, high-tech or highenvironment home, or a high touch home” Once the guest makes thosechoices, the branching may terminate. Once those options are selected,and the branch is determined, additional options or sub-elements may beavailable for selection. These additional selections are identified asmedia element 1 and media element 2 in FIG. 10. For example, if a guestselects a “home” and a “green home”, then one or more additionaloptions, which may be subject or topic related, may be presented, suchas: “car pool or ride your bicycle.” In an example of one embodiment,the first set of options may include one, two, three, four or moreselection options, while the subsequent selection options in thebranches may include two options or choices or questions. However, it iscontemplated that any number of options or choices or questions and anynumber of branches may be used to customize a media object withoutdeparting from the overall scope of the present invention.

In making a selection, the guest is selecting a point. Morespecifically, the system may use flash animation to deliver videoanimation and/or segments thereof. The animation may, therefore, beprovided in one or more flash frames or files. The guest may jumpthrough frame numbers within a flash file based upon selections made andstored in the computer system. Thus, using the examples provided, theguest, based upon selections, may first jump to the home frame, then theguest may jump to the green home frame, then the guest may jump to thebicycle frame, then the guest may jump to a city or country choice(previously selected by the guest), and so forth. Any number of flashpoints and jumps may be used for purposes of the present invention,which are provided by the series of choices or selections made by theguest. Additionally, each flash point may be associated with one or morechoices, for instance, two (2) choices, such as choice A and choice B.In one or more examples, each of choice A and B may also be providedwith an identical number of frames. Thus, in a case in which multipleflash points or a series of choices are made, a user or guest may selecta pattern of flash points in any combination, such as AAAA, or BBBBA, orAB or ABB, or BABA and so forth. In each case, a guest may jump to aspecific frame number associated with a choice or selection. The flashanimation may be combined in sequence to form a seamless animation. Inaddition, audio or an audio file may be synchronized with the frameselections to provide a seamless media, such as a movie. While specificsubject matter is used to illustrate the foregoing and subsequentexamples, the invention is not limited thereto, and any subject oroptions suitable for a particular use may be acceptable for use with themethods and systems described.

In the example provided above, while flash animation is described, themedia object may be any suitable vehicle for display to or otherwisecommunicating with a guest, examples of which include, but are notlimited to a movie, a video, an animation, a slide show or presentation,a static display or a combination of any of the foregoing. The media mayalso include any number of stock and customizable elements orcomponents.

Inserting the extracted image of an identifiable portion of a guest intothe personalized media object further enhances the personalization ofthe object. The image may be inserted by any suitable commerciallyavailable mechanism or may be done by execution of customized softwaredesigned to place an extracted image in a designated location in a mediaobject, or may be done by manual operation. For example, the customizedsoftware may use coordinates on an image or defined in an image andalign those coordinates with a location in a graphic. The softwareexecuted by the media server defines that the identifiable image of theguest, such as the guest's face, may be placed in a particularcoordinate in the frame, such as an XY coordinate, which may be forinstance the centerpiece of a guest's eyes which is positioned into anXY coordinate. This may occur in any form of media regardless of whetherit is an animated movie or a static display.

Using the example provided, the media object would include an image of aperson or guest riding a bicycle home from work to his or her green homein the country if “bicycle” was selected, or if “car pool” was selected,the same scene would show the individual returning home in a car filledwith other people. In other words, the stock media object or animationscene, regardless of whether “bicycle” or “car pool” is chosen, may usethe same number of frames and may include the same background elementswhich can be modified or rendered to include the extracted image. If theguest does not make a selection or a series of selections, a mediaobject may still be created for the guest based upon, for example, adefault setting using the stock media and an image or identifiable imageof the guest.

As another example, the guest's face may be placed on or superimposed onthe bicycle rider. Thus, the bicycle rider with the guest's face ridesthe bicycle to the green home in the example provided. As discussed, theselections made by the guest define the frames of the media or the stockmedia elements.

In the example provided above, in which flash animation is used, a movieis played by jumping from flash animations selected by the guest in theselection of options or choices. While flash animation is specificallydescribed, systems or software such as DirectX and QuickTime or the likemay be used to display/play a media object, such as an animation. Forexample, a static background may be used, and a frame is dropped intothe background at a particular location. Alternatively, a plurality ofmovie or video clips may be provided in a storage system and adapted tobe called up or streamed for play. For instance, one or more movie clipsmay be called up and linked or tagged together based upon user or guestselections and played back in sequence, thereby creating a movie. Themedia object when provided in the form of a movie or video may be afixed length so as to accommodate a fixed length ride. However,variations therefrom would be acceptable for purposes of the presentinvention.

In an alternative embodiment, a single scene or stock media, rather thana plurality of flash animations or scenes, may be used and stored, suchas a single background for a media clip, and the media server may beadapted to dynamically insert or call up the choice to be inserted, suchas the bicycle or the car in the example provided. In this case, theguest image may be similarly placed or inserted into the scene, byplacing the image, for example, on the bicycle or car. To illustratethis example, the guest's face may be plugged into the bicycle animationand the bicycle animation with face may be plugged into the backgroundscene. Alternatively, the guest image may be placed into the scene afterthe bicycle or car is inserted.

The customized media may be transmitted to a computing device 14positioned on the amusement park ride car 10, such as the computingdevice in communication with the display 16. Following transmission, thecustomized media is rendered on a display 16 positioned on the amusementpark ride vehicle 10. The display may be based on the sequence of dataassociated with the at least one image of a portion of the guest.

The system may thus use the metadata and images collected, which may bestored in the server or media server either on-board the ride oroff-board, and may generate the media object. Accordingly, in theexample described hereinabove, the computer system 14 on-board the ridevehicle 10 may record the choices or input made by the guest. Thechoices or input may be then loaded into the form of a media object,such as but not limited to a movie or separate animation, than what maybe available for display on the display screen. The media object thenloads or forms based upon the choices made by the guest, includingspecific scenes. The media object is then played back to the guest.

A customized or personalized media object may be created for each guestin the same manner described above. In addition, a plurality ofcustomized or personalized media objects may be driven by a singlecomputer system, such as the on-board media server 14. Likewise, one ormore customized media objects may be displayed simultaneously or inclose temporal proximity. To this end, the system and componentsdescribed herein are adapted to manage and execute programs for aplurality of customized media files, guest images, and guest metadatasimultaneously or in close temporal relation. Each guest may be indexedor assigned an identification, for example, each guest may be identifiedin association with a ride vehicle or number. A sequence of data may beassociated with at least one image of a portion of the guest sufficientto identify guest vehicle and seat location from a plurality of guestvehicle and seat locations. This sequence of data may also include orassociate a time stamp or other time identifier with the image of aportion of the guest. The data passed to the off-board system or housedby the off-board system may be associated with the image of the guest,the corresponding ride vehicle 10, as well as the data or metadataassociated therewith. Therefore, the network server system 22 oroff-board system is capable of targeting or delivering a guest mediaobject to a particular guest among a plurality of guests.

Upon reaching a segment of the attraction, such as the end of theamusement park ride, a communication may be made to the system toidentify that a ride vehicle 10 has reached this segment, or isapproaching this segment. For example, a mechanical or electronictrigger may be used to signal to the system that a specific vehicle(which may have a particular identification associated therewith) hasreached the exit or is approaching the exit. In an example, upon receiptof the signal, a timer may determine the display of a media object.

The data or metadata and image, which was passed from the off-boardsystem to the on-board system, may be passed back to the off-boardsystem at or near the end of the attraction. The data may also alreadyexists in the off-board system, and in particular in the databaseconnected to or in communication with the vehicle computer system, andtherefore not need to be re-passed off-board as the data or a copythereof already exists in that system. In addition. Any additionalchoices or selections made by the guest may be transferred orcommunicated to the off-board system from the on-board computer systemvia the previously described mechanisms. This data may be passed at anytime after the selection is made by the guest.

Following the triggering event, the image and metadata may be usedand/or displayed by the system in an additional display (not shown). Themetadata and image may be displayed in the form of a media object, suchas a static display or video or movie. In a previously describedexample, a guest may have selected a location where they live which isinput and retained as metadata. This metadata may be used, then, todisplay the guest's image on a location of a map in this location. Theimage may be the same image that was used to create the media objectdisplayed on the guest interaction device 28, such as in the form of amovie, or may be a different image of the guest.

In addition, one or more kiosks (not shown) may be available for use bya guest. Each kiosk may be adapted for object recognition, such asrecognition of an identifiable portion of a guest. The identifiableportion may be the same portion as used previously by the image capturecomputer system 18, or may be a separate image. The kiosk may, thus,recognize the guest based upon the earlier image obtained of the guestduring a portion of the ride. To this end, the kiosk may be providedwith an image capture device 26 and, in one example, may retrieve orobtain an additional image of the guest, such as by obtaining a picture.Object recognition may be accomplished, in one example, by comparingselected facial features from the image and a facial database. Objectrecognition may be used to compare two or more images to locateidentifiable portions. One image may be a scene image. An additionalimage may be obtained from, for instance, a scene image including atleast one image of a portion of a person. The new image obtained by thekiosk camera may be compared to an image retained in the system from theearlier ride image, and/or compared to other images of people or guestswho have been on or exited a ride. In one example, the system may use adefined or discrete time period and review images of individuals withinthat time period. Likewise, the system may limit variables by limitingthe images it reviews to those only associated with a particular ride.An image may then be compared with the face data. Suitable recognitioncomputer methods include eigenface, fisherface, the Hidden Markov modelneuronal motivated dynamic link matching and others. It is contemplatedthat three-dimensional object or face recognition may also be used inwhich three-dimensional sensors are arranged to capture informationabout the shape of an object, namely the face. This information may thenbe used to identify distinctive features on the surface of, for example,the face, such as, but not limited to, the contour of the eye sockets,nose, and chin. Visual details of the skin, as captured in standarddigital or scanned images, may also be used for object recognition,which may make an identification on skin texture, such as but notlimited to the unique lines, patterns, and spots apparent in a person'sskin. Suitable object recognition or facial recognition software andproducts may be obtained from L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc. of Stamford,Connecticut. Other means and devices for object recognition may be usedwithout departing from the overall scope of the present invention.

Once the image is located, in some instances, the guest may be asked toconfirm the image is correct. In an alternative example, a system orkiosk may provide the guest with a plurality of image choices andrequest that a guest make a selection of image choices. The guest mayalso be queried regarding the one or more selections made during theattraction. The image of the guest in the media chosen may be displayedfor the guest on the kiosk or on a separate display.

The kiosk may be adapted to obtain user input from the guest. Forexample, the kiosk may display one or more options, such as but notlimited to a series of questions, for the guest. Any number of inquiriesor options may be suitable for the purposes provided. In one example,the kiosk may request that the guest select a language. The kiosk may beadapted to query the guest, and/or obtain an order or obtain a request,or otherwise create a media piece, such as a post card or a picture orvideo/movie of the guest's experience. The media piece may be created orgenerated from the media object that was created during the course ofthe ride and which may have been viewed by the guest. A media piece, ifselected, may be created in close temporal proximity to the guest'svisit to the kiosk, or may be created at a later date and sent to theguest at a particular location. The media piece may be a static mediaelement, such as but not limited to a picture or post card, or may be amotion picture, video, audio or other suitable media.

Accordingly, in the method and system described herein, an image may beobtained and displayed in or blended into the animation of a mediaobject such as a movie or video, and may in addition be displayed in orblended into a static display. Each form of display may occur at anylocation in the attraction and on any form of display.

The method of the examples discussed herein may be automated, or may bepartially automated, or may include any combination of automated andmanual operation. Examples include, but are not limited to: the systemmay automatically detect the location of the guest, such as but notlimited to, the ride vehicle 10 and the seat location of a seated guest;the system may also automatically capture an image of a guest, and inparticular, an identifiable image of a guest; and the system mayautomatically generate a media object including said image.

As can be seen from the foregoing description of embodiments, the methodand systems described herein provide a significant enhancement to theguest experience at an attraction. The foregoing system may be used togenerate a personalized experience and a personalized media object forthe guest, and may be done without obtaining any information from orabout the guest. The system however, permits and provides a means forpersonalization by the guest through guest selections or choices made inassociation with the attraction and which are stored and used inassociation with an image of the guest. These selections or choices, asdescribed, customize the media object for the guest. The resultant mediaobject provides a personal connection to at least a portion of the rideby injecting a guest image and metadata related to the guest into aportion of the attraction. In addition, the method focuses the attentionof the guest on the attraction, by requiring the input from the guestand generating a response or media including the guest. Moreover, themedia object can be used to provide guest entertainment during, forexample, transitions of the ride which may otherwise not maintain theattention of the guest.

The system herein used and described herein to customize media mayinclude one or more components that may be operated by a computer orcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executable ona computer. The computer may be a single computer or a plurality ofcomputers. Program modules may include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures and the like which perform particular tasksor implement particular instructions. The computers for use inassociation with the system, method and various components describedherein may be programmable computers which may be special purposecomputers or a general purpose computers that execute the systemaccording to the relevant instructions. Other computer systemconfigurations may also be acceptable, including hand-held devices, cellphones, PDAs, mobile devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable electronics, network PC's,minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The computing systemmay include a display or graphical user interface. The computing systemchosen may include a processor suitable in size to efficiently operateone or more of the various systems or functions of the invention. Tothis end, the server and/or computer may be capable of efficiently andeffectively handling the receipt, maintenance, and transfer of largedata files. The system, computer, or portions thereof may also be linkedto a distributed computing environment, where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. To this end, the system may be configured or linked to multiplecomputers in a network, including, but not limited to a local areanetwork, a wide area network, a wireless network, and the Internet.Therefore, information and data may be transferred within the network orsystem by wireless means, by hardwire connection or combinationsthereof. Furthermore, the computer or computers may be operatively orfunctionally connected to one or more mass storage devices, such as, butnot limited to a database. The system may also include computer-readablemedia which may include any computer readable media or medium that maybe used to carry or store desired program code that may be accessed by acomputer. Moreover, a means for converting data, media, images, andother files and information into digital or other machine readableformat may be used.

Although various representative embodiments of this invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled inthe art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subjectmatter set forth in the specification and claims. For example, while thesystem and method herein are described in association with an amusementpark attraction, the reference to an amusement park attraction is forpurposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to limitthe overall scope of the present invention. In some instances, inmethodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps andoperations are described in one possible order of operation, but thoseskilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may berearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A method for customizing media comprising: obtaining a imageincluding at least one image of a portion of a person; extracting the atleast one image of a portion of a person from the image based on objectfinding; generating customized media including the at least one image ofa portion of a person extracted from the image.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the operation of extracting comprises extracting at least onefacial image associated with the at least one image of a portion of aperson from the image based on face finding.
 3. The method of claim 2further comprising cropping the at least one facial image along aboundary of the facial image.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein theoperation of generating customized media includes generating customizedmedia including the at least one cropped facial image.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the customized media includes a stock animation with atleast one character customized to include the at least one croppedfacial image.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation ofextracting comprises extracting an at least partially obscured image ofa portion of a person from the scene image.
 7. The method of claim 1further comprising altering the at least one cropped guest image.
 8. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: the operation of obtaining an image comprisesobtaining a ride image of at least one guest in an amusement park ridecar; the operation of extracting comprises extracting the at least oneimage of a portion of the guest from the ride image based on objectfinding; cropping the at least one image of a portion of the guest; andthe operation of generating customized media includes generatingcustomized media including the at least one cropped image of a portionof the guest extracted from the at least one ride image.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein the at least one image of a portion of a guestcomprises at least a portion of a guest facial image, the operation ofextracting comprises extracting the at least one guest facial image fromthe image based on face finding, the operation of cropping comprisescropping the at least one guest facial image, and the operation ofgenerating customized media comprises generating customized mediaincluding the at least one cropped guest facial image extracted from theat least one ride image.
 10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:associating metadata with the at least one image of a portion of theguest.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising: associating asequence of data with the at least one image of a portion of the guestsufficient to identify a guest vehicle and seat location from aplurality of guest vehicle and seat locations.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the operation of associating a sequence of data furthercomprises associating a time identifier with the at least one image of aportion of the guest.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:receiving a selection of a particular stock media from a plurality ofstock media; wherein the operation of generating customized mediaincludes customizing the selected stock media to include the at leastone image of a portion of the guest on a stock character of the selectedstock media.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: transmittingthe image to a remote computer; at the remote computer, extracting theat least one image of a portion of the guest from the image based onobject finding; cropping the at least one image of a portion of theguest; generating customized media including the at least one cropped atleast one image of a portion of the guest extracted from the at leastone ride image; displaying the customized media on a display positionedon the amusement park ride car based on the sequence of data associatedwith the at least one image of a portion of the guest.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 further comprising: transmitting the customized media to acomputing device positioned on the amusement park ride car, thecomputing device in communication with the display.
 16. An amusementpark attraction comprising: at least one ride vehicle configured to seatone or more guests, the at least one ride vehicle including at least onefirst computing device with a display; an imaging device positioned tocapture at least one image of the at least one or more guests; and theat least one first computing device configured to display customizedmedia comprising a stock media altered to include the at least one guestimage.
 17. The amusement park attraction of claim 16 further comprising:at least one second computing device in communication with the imagingdevice, the second computing device configured to: receive the at leastone image and extract a facial image based on face finding; customizethe stock media to include the at least one guest facial image on acharacter of the stock media; the at least one first computing device incommunication with the at least one second computing device to receiveand display the customized stock media.
 18. The amusement parkattraction of claim 16 wherein the first computing device and secondcomputing device are adapted to communicate by wireless means.
 19. Theamusement park attraction of claim 16 at least one third computingdevice in communication with at least one of the at least one firstcomputing device and the at least one second computing device, the atleast one third computing device configured to: extract a facial imagebased on facial recognition; receive and display the customized media.20. The amusement park attraction of claim 20 wherein the at least onethird computing device is further configured to at least one of modifyand communicate the customized media.